Post by Michael Gray on May 12, 2004 11:19:00 GMT
United travelled to Wick in overcast but pleasant enough conditions for the David Allan Shield semi-final. For the first time this season they announced an unchanged squad with Ewen Boyd retaining his position in the squad. United in recent games have shown a steady improvement and were hoping to continue this against a Thistle side who had suffered a somewhat indifferent start to the season. Nichol had the first real opportunity when he ran on to a lovely through ball from Inrig he took a touch before firing a shot on goal, which Richards did brilliantly to turn away for a corner. Brian Gray had the keeper working again moments later when he took a short throw from Mackenzie and produced a wicked inswinging corner that had the keeper at full stretch punching away with Nichol and Cassidy awaiting any misjudgement. United took the lead after quarter of an hour and it came via a Bremner corner Boyd made a dash to the near post and powered a header goal wards that Richards did brilliantly to parry but the keeper’s luck ran out there as Nichol reacted quickest to nod the ball into the empty net. Mackenzie who was having another hugely influential night down the left against young McKeddie who stuck to his task well but was up against one of the county’s top performers and he brought out another top notch save from the home goalkeeper at his near post at the expense of a corner after the wideman had winged his way along the bye-line before unleashing a drive. Nichol then latched on to a long ball from defence and as the Thistle rear guard retreated he rounded Richards but just failed to hit the target with an off-balance shot. Thistle’s first opportunity came courtesy of a Steven freekick after Boyd was adjudged to have fouled Mackay on the left hand side of the park. The left footed midfielder swung in a tantalising ball which B Gray scrambled clear under severe pressure from Hughes. Route one created another opening moments later for Nichol when Gray claimed a Davis centre he thumped a long ball clean over the home defence and allowed Nichol to run in on Richards the striker’s lob over the stranded keeper found the roof of the net unfortunately for United it was the outside. Cassidy produced brilliant skill in the right hand channel before whipping in a beauty that had Hughes at full stretch trying to deal with the cross as Nichol lurked with intent at his back. Uniteds best effort on goal in the latter stages came when Ryan Farmer raced into space around thirty yards from goal and as the defence in front of him rbacked off he powered a drive that shaved the outside of the post Thistle’s best opportunity of the half came when the impressive Davis broke free on the right he linked with Henderson but he sclaffed his shot straight at Gray just when he appeared to have done all the hard work his finish deserted him.
Half-time
Wick Thistle 0-1 Pentland United
United almost extended the lead moments into the second half when a powerful downward header from Gray was blocked on the line and Cassidy reacted first but he couldn’t believe it when his close range shot cleared the bar with the goal at his mercy. The visitors continued to knock at the door with Mackenzie and Baker the focal points of attack however the chances they had already missed were beginning to offer real encouragement for the homeside who were coming into the game more and more. Nichol and Cassidy whose partnership has really been blossoming of late were only the merest of touches away from doubling the advantage when Nichol picked out his partner but Richards was sharp of his line and just beat the striker to the ball however he failed to gather it cleanly and was thankful to the retreating Henderson for clearing the ball away off the line. Davis then had a good chance to square the game as once again the quality of Steven on the left had United toiling and he delivered the inch perfect cross for the midfielder whose header was denied by a combination of M Gray and the post. This was to prove a crucial miss as United doubled their advantage minutes later when Farmer picked up a clearance beat his marker More and then picked out Cassidy who brilliantly took the ball on the run drew Richards before producing a finish that was coolness personified. This changed the whole complexion of the game United visibly relaxing while Thistle no knew they needed to score twice to find a way back into the game. Begg and Manson replaced Baker and Nichol with 20 minutes left on the clock as United looked to freshen the side up. That man Davis had another glorious chance from a freekick on the left after Boyd was again adjudged to have fouled Mackay although it appeared to most that the decision by referee Gunn should have gone the other way. However Steven didn’t waste any time producing another accurate ball finding the little midfielder unmarked 8 yards out however his header just cleared the bar much to his frustration. With just under ten minutes left Ewen Boyd replaced Cassidy as again they tried to freshen up the side. Just when United seemed to be heading towards a well earned clean sheet disaster struck a high up and under ball saw the United team fail to react and as Davis broke into the box he nipped the ball away from the committed B Gray giving referee Gunn no option but to point to the spot. Steven wasted no time in sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for the very last kick of the ball.
Full-time
Wick Thistle 1-2 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. M Baker (D Manson 72) 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol (J Begg 72) 10. L Cassidy (E Boyd 83) 11. N Mackenzie
View from the goal
Again I thought our general play was first class we played some great stuff stretching the Thistle side perhaps our only fault was that we were a little to lackadaisical in front of goal and on another day it may have been costly. I thought Willie Inrig who has been steadily improving since his return from injury during the winter turned in another composed display he just has that knack of giving himself that extra yard of space to make a pass or get a shot off. Real disappointment at then end conceding a penalty in injury time once again spoiling a relatively solid defensive display in fact the main danger was runners coming from the midfield. At the start of the game it may have seemed we would have a straight forward victory although that was never the thought in our camp the Thistle side certainly impressed me especially young Davis who was their stand-out player along with keeper Richards. Quite how they have suffered so many reverses already this year is beyond me as there is no doubting the quality in their ranks. So we move into the first final of the season versus our old rivals Acks on May 22nd in what is sure to be another tense and tight affair.
Half-time
Wick Thistle 0-1 Pentland United
United almost extended the lead moments into the second half when a powerful downward header from Gray was blocked on the line and Cassidy reacted first but he couldn’t believe it when his close range shot cleared the bar with the goal at his mercy. The visitors continued to knock at the door with Mackenzie and Baker the focal points of attack however the chances they had already missed were beginning to offer real encouragement for the homeside who were coming into the game more and more. Nichol and Cassidy whose partnership has really been blossoming of late were only the merest of touches away from doubling the advantage when Nichol picked out his partner but Richards was sharp of his line and just beat the striker to the ball however he failed to gather it cleanly and was thankful to the retreating Henderson for clearing the ball away off the line. Davis then had a good chance to square the game as once again the quality of Steven on the left had United toiling and he delivered the inch perfect cross for the midfielder whose header was denied by a combination of M Gray and the post. This was to prove a crucial miss as United doubled their advantage minutes later when Farmer picked up a clearance beat his marker More and then picked out Cassidy who brilliantly took the ball on the run drew Richards before producing a finish that was coolness personified. This changed the whole complexion of the game United visibly relaxing while Thistle no knew they needed to score twice to find a way back into the game. Begg and Manson replaced Baker and Nichol with 20 minutes left on the clock as United looked to freshen the side up. That man Davis had another glorious chance from a freekick on the left after Boyd was again adjudged to have fouled Mackay although it appeared to most that the decision by referee Gunn should have gone the other way. However Steven didn’t waste any time producing another accurate ball finding the little midfielder unmarked 8 yards out however his header just cleared the bar much to his frustration. With just under ten minutes left Ewen Boyd replaced Cassidy as again they tried to freshen up the side. Just when United seemed to be heading towards a well earned clean sheet disaster struck a high up and under ball saw the United team fail to react and as Davis broke into the box he nipped the ball away from the committed B Gray giving referee Gunn no option but to point to the spot. Steven wasted no time in sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for the very last kick of the ball.
Full-time
Wick Thistle 1-2 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. M Baker (D Manson 72) 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol (J Begg 72) 10. L Cassidy (E Boyd 83) 11. N Mackenzie
View from the goal
Again I thought our general play was first class we played some great stuff stretching the Thistle side perhaps our only fault was that we were a little to lackadaisical in front of goal and on another day it may have been costly. I thought Willie Inrig who has been steadily improving since his return from injury during the winter turned in another composed display he just has that knack of giving himself that extra yard of space to make a pass or get a shot off. Real disappointment at then end conceding a penalty in injury time once again spoiling a relatively solid defensive display in fact the main danger was runners coming from the midfield. At the start of the game it may have seemed we would have a straight forward victory although that was never the thought in our camp the Thistle side certainly impressed me especially young Davis who was their stand-out player along with keeper Richards. Quite how they have suffered so many reverses already this year is beyond me as there is no doubting the quality in their ranks. So we move into the first final of the season versus our old rivals Acks on May 22nd in what is sure to be another tense and tight affair.